The best ski resorts in Europe. Inexpensive ski resorts in Europe. The best ski resorts in Europe
We don't blame you at all for wanting to save money. Alpine skiing is already not cheap, but with the current exchange rate, it is cheaper to buy a nine than a new top-end snowboard. Well, if you finally bought a snowboard, you want to try it out in the mountains, and not in the park behind the house.
Let's see where you'll spend the least money on beer, ski lifts and lodging. We will compare prices for the high season (end of December - mid-March). And for lovers of freebies, we advise you to go in April.
Accommodation : From €169 per person. This is seven nights in a 4-bed room, including breakfast, transfers from the airport to the ski lifts and some evening entertainment.
Ski pass for 6 days: €199
A full meal costs less than €10, and Slovaks take their food seriously. A night in a hostel with breakfast costs around £20.
Fresh powder, official freeride area, beer for € 1.20, what more do you need?
Accommodation :From 1000 rubles per night without meals
Ski pass for 6 days:7600 rubles (8,000 rupees)
Few people consider India as a ski resort, but in vain. Gulmarg is one of the best backcountry resorts for little money. But be prepared for real altitude and altitude sickness, this is the Himalayas after all. The lifts reach higher than 4000 meters.
But tickets to Singapore cost a lot, but this is compensated by the reasonable prices for a ski pass, accommodation and food.
Accommodation:from £10 per night + breakfast
Ski pass for 6 days: 10,000 rubles
Bulgaria is one of the largest and cheapest resorts in Europe. The season here starts and ends a little later, so you can find inexpensive spring deals.
Over the past few years, a lot of money has been invested here, and Bansko has acquired tens of kilometers of slopes, joint hotels and ski lifts.
This is a great place for beginners, but also for off-piste lovers there is plenty to roam around.
Accommodation: From £17 per night + breakfast
Ski pass for 5 days:£160
The UK may not be on the list of the best must-visit resorts in the world, but it is an option worth considering. It can get quite windy, but there are about 30 kilometers of trails, 11 lifts and an endless backcountry area.
For a few days you will definitely have something to roll, especially if a fresh plump one has fallen out. But we wouldn’t recommend going here for more than a week.
Accommodation: from €25 per night + breakfast and lunch
Ski pass for 6 days: €84
The resort is located 10 kilometers from the city and is one of the cheapest in the world.
With a maximum altitude of 2,030 meters and around 30 kilometers of pistes, it may not sound like much, but it does receive some serious snowfall during the winter months.
Well, beer is around 1 euro as a nice addition.
Accommodation: from $25 per night without meals
Ski pass for 6 days: $324
Extensive ski area, lots of snow and no queues. That's what Bridger Bowl is. At an altitude of 2,650 meters the chances of heavy snowfall are very good.
Tickets, of course, are a little expensive, but compared to Aspen and other American resorts, the prices here are ridiculous.
Accommodation: Apartments on Airbnb from £65\night for three
Ski pass for 6 days: €194.50
If you want to ride in the European Alps without overpaying, then this is the place for you.
The resort is located in a wide valley, near the Swiss border, and has long been chosen by European lovers of saving money.
For several years, off-piste skiing was prohibited here, now, thank God, this is a thing of the past, and now heliskiing is thriving here at very competitive prices.
The Livigno ski pass gives you a 50% discount on a one-day ski pass to St. Moritz if you want to see what the famous Swiss resort is like.
Accommodation: From €20\night
Ski pass for 6 days: €168
Few people outside Germany have heard of this place, but many world champions in alpine skiing are from here.
About 34 kilometers of pistes and 16 lifts are just an hour's drive from Munich.
Prices here are very reasonable compared to other European resorts. A seasonal ski pass, for example, costs €400 rather than €900. There are fewer queues on weekends, and it’s generally calmer here.
Accommodation : from £13 per night
Ski pass for 6 days: €139
Perched high above the beautiful Lake Bohil, this Eastern European resort is a real gem.
People have been skiing here since 1964. Vogel has 22 kilometers of pistes, excellent value for money, delicious home-cooked food and rivers of schnapps with stunning views of the Alps. Well suited for beginners who don’t need a whole web of lifts.
Accommodation: from £15 per night without meals
Ski pass for 6 days: €69
Popova Shapka is the main ski resort in Macedonia, just 35 kilometers from the capital - Skopje. The village has 200-300 chalets that can be rented and a couple of restaurants.
There's plenty to do on the slopes for both beginners and chubby connoisseurs.
For the second, you can contact the Eskimo Freeride company, they have the cheapest guides in Europe.
We haven’t looked at domestic resorts yet; we’ll talk about them separately.
How do you like the idea of conquering some majestic mountain peak in Europe on skis or snowboards? Lose extra pounds after New Year's feasts, breathe in the cleanest air and have fun from the heart? Many of our tourists are delighted, for example, with Sölden! And it's awesome here! This is truly a second Ibiza, a winter option. Where else in Europe, besides excellent, breathtaking slopes, is there a great après ski holiday? We have prepared for you a convenient overview of the TOP 6 European ski resorts. Read, choose... And let's go! 🙂
SOLDEN, Austria – parties until the morning from RUB 73,700. for two, for 7 nights in a 3* hotel with breakfast
SNOW: The resort is located at a decent altitude, so there is a sea of snow already in December. Awesome freeride, get ready!
SKIING AREA: 1350 – 3340 meters above sea level. Sölden offers 3 peaks over 3 km high: Gaislachkogl, Giggijoch, the Golden Gate, as well as the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers.
APRES- SKI: The noisiest and funniest parties in Tyrol, starting right on the slopes and continuing in the city, open air festivals, 10 discos, 90 restaurants, nice cafes and bars, the sports Freizeitzentsentr - with an indoor pool, sauna, solarium, cinema.
TRAILS AND SKIFS: Mostly simple and medium difficulty. The total length of the trails is 145 km, good trails for beginners are 70 km, a special trail for those studying at the foot of the mountains, intermediate trails are 44.9 km, super difficult trails are 29.2 km. Modern high-speed lifts go down to the central streets and hotels.
FOR SNOWBOARDERS: Snowboard park with jumps, rails, walls, half-pipe and an amazing boardercross track, off-piste skiing on glaciers.
SEASON: Almost all year round, the snowiest period is from December to April.
VAL DI FASSA, Italy – endless trails and routes from RUB 52,100. for two, for 7 nights in a 2* hotel with breakfast
SNOW: The heights are average, but there is no doubt about the presence of snow on the slopes. Plus, almost 100% of the trails are equipped with snow cannons. Off-piste skiing is difficult.
SKIING AREA: 1320 – 2950 meters above sea level. An unimaginably huge area where you can roll out - it can compete with Austria. Val di Fassa is part of the Sella Ronda system, which unites 4 large resort areas - Alta Badia, Arabba Marmolada, Val di Fassa and Val Gardena.
APRES- SKI: Many cafes and restaurants, sleigh rides, toboggan, sports center with an Olympic swimming pool with saunas and massages.
TRAILS AND SKIFS: Includes 470 lifts, 1,220 km of pistes and is part of the world's largest ski alliance, Dolomiti Superski. Easy (blue) – 244 km, medium difficulty (red) – 854 km, difficult (black) – 122 km.
FOR SNOWBOARDERS: 2 snowboard parks with half-pipes.
SEASON: In the presence of snow - from November to April.
MAYRHOFEN, Austria – frenzy and eternal holiday from 48,320 rubles. for two, for 7 nights in a 3* hotel
SNOW: High mountainous region, reliable snow throughout the season.
SKIING AREA: 630 – 2500 meters above sea level. The territory includes the regions Penken, Horberg, Raskogel, Eggalm. Ahorn stands out separately - ideal for parents with children, with a study area.
APRES- SKI: Lively nightlife, restaurants, cafes, bars, disco clubs. One of the most famous bars in Austria, ICE BAR, is located at the bottom station of the Penkenbahn lift. Family water park Erlebnisbad with water slides and Crazy River - plunge into summer! International festival of dance and electronic music Snowbombing - thunders in April. National Austrian evenings, theatrical performances.
TRAILS AND SKIFS: Mayrhofen boasts the longest cable car, the steepest slope in Austria - Harakiri (slope 78%), 136 km of slopes: 40 km blue, 66 km red, 30 km black. 57 lifts, 5 gondolas start from different villages of the valley.
FOR SNOWBOARDERS: You won't be bored! There is a town for snowboarders, a Vans Penken park with 6 thematic areas - a pleasure for fans of freestyle and snowboarding of all levels, with its own 4-chair lift, a huge rainbow box, half-pipes, rails, jumps and 6 more parks.
SEASON: From early December to April.
ZELL AM SEE, Austria – the most democratic and romantic resort in Tyrol, from RUB 51,990. for two, for 7 nights in a 2* hotel with breakfast
SNOW: There is a lot of snow, but few queues and people - perfect!
SKIING AREA: 750 – 2000 meters above sea level. In the Salzburg region of Pinzgau. Without steepness and large size, but there are plenty of places to go for a ride, and for the beauty of nature near the frozen lake - simply the highest score!
APRES- SKI: Classical-aristocratic. Quiet evenings near the fireplace with a mug of mulled wine in the company of family or friends. You can go to Salzburg or Munich for a day. The resort has 90 restaurants, 35 cafes, 35 night bars, a wellness center with an indoor pool, sauna and solarium.
TRAILS AND SKIFS: Dedicated to beginners and advanced students. Although there are 2 steep black trails from the very top down, the Kaprun Glacier. 130 km of trails include beginner trails - 25 km, intermediate trails - 27 km, and the most difficult ones - 25 km. More than 40 brand new lifts.
FOR SNOWBOARDERS: Well, they are not extreme sports enthusiasts, not extreme sports enthusiasts... Although there is a fun park and a half-pipe.
SEASON: From late December to April.
ISCHL, Austria – for professionals in skiing and crazy apres-ski, from RUB 108,980. for two, for 7 nights in a 4* hotel with breakfast
SNOW: Stable snow cover throughout the season.
SKIING AREA: 1400 – 2864 meters above sea level. A wonderful area in the Paznaun Valley, diverse and compact, close to the Swiss border.
APRES- SKI: After skating - wild parties. Inexpensive shopping at prices below duty free. Gastronomic restaurants for gourmets. Cool swimming pool and sauna with a nightclub, cafes, bars, restaurants.
TRAILS AND SKIFS: Ischgl has both forested and treeless ski areas. There are 38 km of trails for beginners, 155 km for intermediate skiers, and a sufficient number of black trails for pros – 45 km. More than 40 lifts, including the world's first double-decker lift for 180 people.
FOR SNOWBOARDERS: Huge valleys of untouched virgin soil, 4 jumps, a half-pipe with music, a fun park - just paradise!
In Europe There are expensive and cheap ski resorts, large and small, youth and those suitable for the whole family. And there is simply best ski resorts! the site presents the latest TOP 10 ski resorts in Europe.
10. Solden, Austria
Austrian ski resort Sölden, located in the Ötztal valley, is called the heart of the Alps. A wide range of slopes, including blue, red and black ski slopes, makes the resort area of Sölden one of the most popular not only in Europe, but throughout the world. The total length of the trails is 144 kilometers. Sölden is the only ski resort in Austria, on the territory of which there are three mountains over 3000 meters high: Gaislachkogel, Tiefenbachkogel and Schwarze-Schneide. 10 kilometers from Sölden, in the village of Langenfeld, there are the only thermal baths in the entire Tyrol region.
09. Courchevel, France
Courchevel is located in the Three Valleys, the largest ski region peace. The uniqueness of Courchevel lies in the incredibly convenient location of the slopes. All you have to do is leave the apartment, put on your skis, and you can go down the mountain. Each of the five villages of Courchevel - ancient Saint-Bon, Le Praz with romantic chalets and others - has an individual, unique atmosphere. Courchevel is suitable not only for professionals, but also for beginners - the resort has a special ZEN zone, which combines 19 green and 35 blue runs. The total length of the ski slopes in Courchevel is 150 kilometers.
08. Ischgl, Austria
Another Austrian resort, awarded a place in ranking of the best ski resorts in Europe- Ischgl. The total length of the trails in Ischgl is 238 kilometers, and the longest of them stretches for 11 kilometers. Every year, the popular Tyrolean resort becomes an arena for world-class musicians. Stars such as Elton John, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner and Pink have already performed here, and on May 3, 2014 in Ischgl, right on the top of the mountain, a concert of one of the most famous British singers, Robbie Williams, will take place.
07. Skivelt, Austria
Ski region Skivelt is the largest in Austria. The total length of the trails here is 279 kilometers. Skivelta has wonderful illuminated trails that offer the possibility of night skiing or tobogganing. A good half of the ski slopes in Skivelt are designed for beginners, so this Austrian resort is perfect for a family ski holiday.
06. La Plagne, France
The French ski resort of La Plagne is also family-oriented. La Plagne is made up of 10 distinct villages and 225 kilometers of trails of varying levels of difficulty. A unique feature of the La Plagne resort is the presence of an Olympic bobsleigh track, which was built in 1992.
05. Saalbach, Austria
The Alpine resort region of Saalbach-Hinterglemm is one of the most famous in Austria. The total length of the ski slopes in Saalbach exceeds 200 kilometers. Also Ski resort Saalbach – Hinterglemm It will appeal to lovers of mountain hiking. There are several exciting routes for them.
04. Are, Sweden
Åre is the only place in Sweden where you can fully enjoy winter activities in the mountains. Among the undoubted advantages of skiing in Sweden, it is simply necessary to mention the opportunity to watch the northern lights. There is also entertainment available in Åre that will delight the most advanced skiers - heli-skiing. This is a descent along snowy slopes untouched by man. A helicopter is used to find virgin mountain slopes. The total length of prepared ski slopes in the Swedish resort of Åre exceeds 100 kilometers.
Wonderful French resort Alpe d'Huez located on a sunny plateau at an altitude of 1860 meters above sea level. The sun shines here 300 days a year, and in the clearest weather you can see a fifth of the whole of France from the top of the Pic Blanc mountain! In addition to skiing, other equally attractive activities are available in Alpe d'Huez: hiking, cycling, horseback riding and many others. Skiers have 250 kilometers of trails of varying difficulty levels at their disposal.
02. Baqueira, Spain
The only Spanish resort included in rating the best European ski resorts– Baqueira, located in the highest part of the Catalan regions of Val d'Aran and Pallars Sobira. If Austrian Sölden is the heart of the Alps, then Baqueira is undoubtedly the heart of the Pyrenees. The total length of ski slopes in Baqueira is approximately 120 kilometers - a total of about 80 slopes that are suitable for ski lovers of different skill levels.
Recently, more and more skiers and snowboarders from Russia are heading to the Alps. In this post, I present to you a selection of the 10 best ski resorts in Europe and the most important information you should know about them.
To begin with, I would like to provide a map showing all the main resorts in the Alps.
Chamonix Mont Blanc (France)
Nearest airports and flight costs to them:
- Geneva, 104 km, air ticket Moscow - Geneva 116 Euro two ways;
- Lyon, 224 km, air ticket Moscow - Lyon 128 Euro two ways;
- Turin, 174 km, air ticket Moscow - Turin 71 Euro two ways;
- Bern, 180 km, air ticket Moscow - Bern 348 Euro two ways;
- Basel, 276 km, air ticket Moscow - Basel 143 Euro two ways.
Brief description of the resort:(French: Chamonix Mont-Blanc) - one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and France. Chamonix is located in a picturesque location at the foot of the highest mountain in Europe - Mont Blanc. In 1924, the first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix. Chamonix's most famous descent is the White Valley, 20 km long.
Playing your favorite sport turns out to be inextricably linked with travel. However, not every athlete wants to leave their native continent to ski. Especially for such people, we have compiled a rating in which we described the best ski resorts in Europe.
When describing the best places for skiing in Europe, Austria should be mentioned first. There are several bases with quality trails, luxury hotels and high-quality schools.
Sölden
We put the Austrian region of Sölden in first place. It will not leave even the most demanding European indifferent.
Advantages
Anyone who loves fun and variety will feel comfortable in this place. There are many entertainment venues here.
The local trails are accessible for skiing in almost any season. The snow cover in Sölden does not melt. And all because it is located surrounded by two huge glaciers, which are considered one of the most bulky in the entire country.
Ideal tracks, the ability to choose the difficulty of the descent, the availability of entertainment for athletes of any age and professional level - all this makes Sölden one of the most popular European regions offering alpine skiing.
Davos
The city of Davos is located in Switzerland. Not only people come here, but also people suffering from pulmonary diseases. The local climate greatly alleviates the consequences of their ailments for such guests.
Advantages
The main advantages of Davos include clean air. Thanks to her, being in this region has such a beneficial effect on health.
The slopes of Davos are not satisfactory and are highly rated by both amateurs and professional skiers.
Megève
Advantages
The height of the slopes in Megeve reaches 2.5 thousand meters. Even at an altitude of 1.8 thousand meters, coniferous trees grow here, which give the appearance of the area mystery, grandeur and beauty.
Megève is perfect for those who are used to vacationing with the whole family. It is very quiet and peaceful here. In addition, holidays in these places are inherently romantic.
Gudauri
Undeservedly, many avid tourists ignore Georgia. Meanwhile, there are also many excellent ski resorts with good quality slopes and beautiful nature.
Advantages
The Gudauri region became a resort not so long ago. Therefore, it has unbeaten trails and new hotels. Everything here corresponds to the trends of the times. It's fresh and modern. Austrian specialists were involved in equipping the bases.
The length of the local slopes is not as huge as in other ski regions, and reaches only 16 kilometers. However, such a modest length is compensated by the high quality of the trails.
The highest descent begins at an altitude of three thousand meters. From this point athletes can admire the magnificent local landscape.
Another pleasant detail of Gudauri is the climate of this region. It's very soft.
Bansko
Advantages
Fans of this resort love it for its beautiful, inimitable nature and architecture with a slight touch of antiquity, because the city has an ancient history.
The skiing bases are located on the territory of the Bulgarian national park called “Pirin”. Thanks to this, some routes go right deep into the forests. Lovers in beautiful places will not remain indifferent.
The local seasons are not as long as the Austrian ones: you can ski from December to April. Bansko is great for families with children. There are even kindergartens for little tourists here. Special routes are also created for them.
When describing the ski resorts of Europe, the Sierra Nevada cannot be ignored, if only because it is one of the most popular ski regions in Europe. It is located in the southern part of Spain.
Advantages
An athlete with any skiing experience will find a slope here that will suit him. Despite this, the place is rarely visited by novice athletes.
The peaks of the Sierra Nevada offer excellent views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains. True, you can only enjoy it in clear sunny weather.
These places are rich in snow thanks to the nearby glacier. And just two dozen kilometers from the ski resorts you can already see palm trees, sand and beaches.
Those who like to relax in clubs and restaurants will find here many excellent establishments in which to spend time pleasantly.
Advantages
Thanks to its vast territory and the diversity of its mountainous alpine nature, Breuil-Cervinia boasts a huge variety of slopes. It is believed that riding in the same place here several times is an unforgivable mistake. After all, in a few days of rest here you may never repeat the route.
Here you can often see famous skiers and sports professionals.
There is a sea of excellent hotels, wonderful trails, and restaurants with delicious cuisine. But all this service comes at a high cost to tourists. Due to the high cost of services, we put Breuil-Cervinia only in seventh place on this list.
Winterberg
This popular place is located in Germany. Great for amateur skiers. Due to the modest size of the Winterberg peaks, the slopes here are gentle and easy.
Advantages
Many trails run through forests, which attracts flora lovers.
The town is quite large and has a large number of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. Despite the high demand, there are practically no queues here. The resort can easily accommodate one hundred thousand visitors at a time.
Encamp
This place is not as popular as those described above. This resort is located in Andorra.
Advantages
The Encamp trails are of high quality. They are most suitable for those athletes who have recently started skiing.
This place is located in a very favorable climatic zone. Thanks to this, there is a lot of snowfall here in winter, and in spring it is warm and pleasant to ride.
Encamp is famous for its nightlife, which is attractive to young people. There are many clubs and bars where young tourists enjoy partying.
Ylläs
Advantages
Ylläs is quite famous. It owes its popularity to the longest track in Finland, the length of which reaches three kilometers.
But there are shorter descents here. There are also bases with children's trails.
It's a pleasure to learn to ride here. There are several ski schools in Ylläs.
We have listed the best European ski resorts. To conclude the rating, I would like to recommend readers not to be afraid to visit new places and get to know new countries. It’s so nice to bring back from a trip not only sports, but also cultural discoveries.
If you want to tell us about another European ski resort that can rightfully be called the best, write information about it in the comments.